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Researchers from Michigan Medicine and Cleveland Clinic have found that a personalized diet, guided by the results of a blood test, can significantly reduce abdominal pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The findings, published in Gastroenterology, highlight the potential of a targeted elimination diet in managing IBS symptoms.
A Novel Blood Test for IBS Patients
The study used the InFoods IBS blood test developed by Biomerica. This test identifies foods that trigger an above-normal Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response—an indicator of inflammation in IBS patients. Unlike conventional elimination diets, this test allows patients to pinpoint and remove specific trigger foods rather than following broad dietary restrictions.
Study Design and Findings
The multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial enrolled 238 participants from eight academic centers in the United States. Participants were screened for IgG antibody responses to 18 common dietary triggers and assigned to one of two groups:
- One group eliminated foods that tested positive for high IgG levels.
- The control group followed a sham elimination diet, removing foods similar to but not identical to their triggers.
The results were compelling: 59.6% of patients in the test-based elimination group met the FDA-standard target for reduced abdominal pain, compared to only 42.2% in the sham diet group. The benefits were particularly notable for IBS patients with constipation (IBS-C) and mixed symptoms (IBS-M), where success rates reached 67.1% and 66%, respectively.
A Step Toward Precision Nutrition
“We frequently hear from patients asking whether specific foods are worsening their IBS symptoms,” said Dr. Prashant Singh, MBBS, a Michigan Medicine gastroenterologist and lead author of the study. “This study provides evidence that an IBS-specific IgG-based test can help identify dietary triggers more effectively than prior approaches.”
Previous research on IgG antibody responses in IBS has been limited by small sample sizes and lack of well-designed control diets. This new study addresses these gaps, offering a more rigorous approach to food sensitivity testing in IBS patients.
Implications for IBS Management
Elimination diets, such as the widely used low-FODMAP diet, often require broad food restrictions, making them difficult and costly to maintain. The IgG-based test offers a more tailored alternative, potentially improving adherence and quality of life for IBS sufferers.
“Compared to medications, which treat symptoms after they appear, this approach helps patients avoid triggers altogether,” said Dr. William Chey, M.D., chief of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at the University of Michigan and an investigator in the study.
Currently, no FDA-approved medications specifically target IBS-M, making the findings particularly promising for this subgroup of patients.
Future Research and Considerations
Despite the promising results, experts caution that additional validation studies are needed. “This test represents a step toward precision nutrition,” said Dr. Anthony Lembo, M.D., vice chair of Research at Cleveland Clinic’s Digestive Disease Institute. “However, more research is required before it becomes a standard diagnostic tool.”
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Patients should consult a healthcare professional before making any dietary changes based on IgG testing.
